H.R. 3245: American Privacy Restoration Act

This bill, known as the American Privacy Restoration Act, aims to repeal the USA PATRIOT Act, a piece of legislation that was enacted in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks to enhance law enforcement's abilities to prevent terrorism and other crimes through expanded surveillance and intelligence-gathering powers.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• The bill specifically targets the repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107–56), effectively nullifying its provisions.
• In addition to repealing the Act, the bill proposes that any laws that were amended due to the USA PATRIOT Act should be restored to the language that was in effect before the Act was passed, on October 25, 2001.

Implications of the Repeal

• Privacy Protections: By repealing the USA PATRIOT Act, the bill is intended to enhance individual privacy protections by limiting the government's ability to conduct surveillance without appropriate oversight or justification.
• Law Enforcement Powers: Law enforcement agencies may face restrictions on their surveillance capabilities, which could impact their ability to track potential threats and respond to criminal activities.
• Judicial Oversight: The repeal could restore greater judicial oversight concerning national security and law enforcement surveillance practices, potentially requiring warrants for certain types of surveillance activities that have been conducted more freely under the USA PATRIOT Act.

Administrative and Legislative Process

• The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and has been referred to multiple committees for consideration, including the Judiciary, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Energy and Commerce, Education and Workforce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Armed Services.
• The legislative process will involve discussions, potential amendments, and voting within these committees before it can be brought to the larger House for a vote.

Relevant Companies

• None found